Gbenro Adesina
Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategy Partnerships), of the University of Ibadan, Professor Olanike K. Adeyemo, has joined the academia, friends and relatives in mourning the passage of renowned Mathematician and Scientist, Prof Aderemi Oluyomi Kuku.
In an emotional note on her Facebook page, Adeyemo, who was the pioneer Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategy Partnerships) of the Premier University described the special bond that characterized her relationship with the ace scholar and administrator.
She wrote:
“My mum calls me an old soul because of my penchant for befriending and being befriended by the elderly. The last 2 years has been exceptionally difficult for me because i have suffered the loss of some of my nearest and dearest, the latest being Professor Aderemi Oluyomi Kuku. I sort of blanked out the news of his death these past 2 days, too difficult for me to immediately process.
“He was special, like Professor Chinedum Peace Babalola said “he fought for the soul of African Academy of Sciences”. He was convinced that I belonged in the league of Fellows of the World Academy of Science when my immediate thought was “what is he thinking”? He nominated me, got a seconder and virtually hounded me into doing my part.
“Today I have the honour of being one of 2 females and a total of 14 TWAS Fellows affiliated with Nigeria, himself & late Professor Oye Ibidapo-Obe (another dear friend) inclusive. I celebrate you and thank you in death for deigning to befriend me, for the times you sought my opinion, gave yours and made me wiser by reason of association.
“As we say in the Academia, “There are Professors and there are PROFESSORS”. There goes one of the greatest ……….
“Fare thee well…..Professor Aderemi Oluyomi Kuku! To say, I will miss you is an understatement. I pray the Lord comforts all your beloved and rest your beautiful soul in peace.
“I also beseech the Lord to preserve my other friends in sound health”.
Prof Aderemi Oluyomi Kuku (Ph.D, FAMS (USA), FTWAS, FAAS, FAS(Nig), FMAN, OON, NNOM) was born in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria on March 20, 1941.
He obtained his B.Sc (Special Honours) Mathematics degree of the University of London in 1965; M.Sc (Mathematics) in 1968, Ph.D (Mathematics) 1971;both from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria with his Ph.D thesis written at Columbia University, New York, USA, under Professor Hyman Bass.
He had a long teaching/research career at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria where he became full Professor of Mathematics in 1982, Head, Mathematics Department, 1983-86, Dean, Postgraduate school, 1986-90, and Chairman, Committee of Deans of Postgraduate Schools in Nigerian Universities, 1986-90.
He was Professor of mathematics at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics , (ICTP) (a United Nations Research Centre for Mathematics and physics) 1995-2003 and was the William. W. S. Claytor Endowed Professor of Mathematics at the Grambling State University, Grambling Louisiana, USA.
He earned many recognitions and awards, which include Nigerian National Order of Merit, the highest honour in Nigeria for academic excellence, Officer of the Order of the Niger, Fellow of the American Mathematical Society, Fellow of the Mathematical Association of Nigeria and Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences.
